Orchestral and band drum with improved shell



May 13, 1958 H. 1. WlLLlTS 2,834,244

ORCHESTRAL AND BAND DRUM WITH IMPROVED SHELL Filed Oct. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hobart Willi/s INVENTOR.

H. l. WILLITS 2,834,244

ORCHESTRAL AND BAND' DRUM WITH IMPROVED SHELL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 13, 1958 Filed on. 21, 1;

IN V EN TOR.

BY WWW 19% Hobart Will/rs iiiilli- United States Patent ORCHESTRAL AND BAND DRUM WITH IMPROVED SHELL Hobart I. Willits, Holgate, Ohio, assignor to Bamdiee Drums, Incorporated, Defiance, Ohio Application October 21, 1955, Serial No. 541,890

2 Claims. (Cl. 84-411) The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in drums, generally speaking, and has reference in particular to a unique drum which lends itself to effectual and desirable use in band and orchestral work and, being of strangely effectual and purposeful function, provides a drum which is thought to be an advance in the field of invention under advisement.

As of now it is a matter of common knowledge that bands and orchestras of all types utilize and rely upon drums to either boom out or sound a rhythm or to skillfully punctuate a musical phrase. In fact, the constantly recurring rhythmical beat of the drums is of the essence in well directed performance of most musical renditions. Gay and quickened rhythm and noticeable accents depend much on the utilization of the drum. It is believed that there has long existed a need, looking toward more effective drum utilization, for a portable yoke supported effectually cradled drum. It is an object of the invention to provide stand having a yoke and a drum cradled therein conformable with said yoke, this on a simple, economical construction, compact and streamlined and otherwise handy for expedient playing and outstanding performance.

Another but more specific object of the invention is to provide a drum which is characterized by a semi-elliptical or substantially semi-spherical imperforate shell providing a closed bottom and an open top with the latter equipped with a tensioned batter head to take the place of the commonly used drum having top and bottom heads.

More explicitly, a preferred embodiment of the invention has to do with a drum construction as above stated which is characteristically distinct in that it is equipped interiorly with snares and mounting means therefor so that the snares may be optionally applied and removed to bring about either the snappy rattle-type snare drum effect or, when the snares are off, the more subdued tom-tom effect.

Then, too, patentable novelty is predicated 011 the adaptation stated wherein the over-all construction lends itself to use on a novel yoke-equipped stand and makes provision, in the drum itself, for the use of a more or less conventional batter head and a hold-down and tensioning loop for said head.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and. accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a convertible tympanitype snare drum constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, in section and elevation, taken on an enlarged scale and on the approximate line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal section on the hori zontal line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows;

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Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail section with parts in elevation; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the plane of line 55 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings with the aid of reference numerals, it will be seen that the shell, which is of appropriate onc-piece sheet material comprises a generally cylindrical body portion 6 which forms an open top kettle and has an imperforate substantially semi-spherical bottom 8. If desired, the top of the wall portion may be provided with a suitable bead 10 over which the skin or so-called batter head 12 is tautly stretched in a generally well-known manner. The depending marginal edge portion of the head is wrapped around a tensioning ring or hoop 14 as at 16. This is partly covered by a skirt portion or annulus 18 of a metallic or equivalent covering 20 which substantially encases the upper hoop or socalled tensioning rim 22. The depending annular portion 24 of the rnetal or equivalent covering is denoted at 24 in Figure 2. The hoop is provided at circumferentially spaced points with lugs 26 which as best shown in Figure I serve to accommodate the upper headed ends 23 of the tensioning bolts 30 which bolts are threaded into socket members 32 on the exterior of the shell.

On the interior of the drum are suitable snares 34 having knotted ends 38 fastened in a sort of a tail-plate, 39 similar to that used on certain stringed musical instruments such as guitars, banjos and so on. One end of this is secured interiorly at 40 to the wall of the shell. The upper end portion of the plate bends inwardly and has a suitable flange 41 over which the cord-like snares pass. The opposite ends 43 of the snares are secured in an anchor block 44 which is fastened as at 45 to a vertical strip member which provides a sort of an adapter 46. The adapter has a threaded boss 47 which functions as a nut and serves to accommodate the threaded shank of an adjusting bolt 48. The head 49 on the inner end of this shank is connectable with a lever 56 which is pivoted at 51 between stationary cars 52. There is a yoke 53 on the upper end of said lever carrying a roller 54 which cooperates with and serves to either tighten or loosen the snares so that they may be either lifted up or lowered and thus applied and removed according to the discretion of the drummer. The outer end of the bolt is provided with an appropriate knurled knob 55 providing an appropriate accessible finger-grip and thus by adjusting the bolt the lever and yoke means regulates the position of the roller 54 and this either loosens or tightens the snares.

The stand is novel in part. It comprises an appropriate base 56 with a standard 57 in which a stem 58 is adjustably mounted and held in place as at 59. This stem or shaft portion is provided with an arcuate yoke 60 which embraces the curved bottom and cylindrical side portions of the drum. One end of the yoke is bifurcated as at 61 to accommodate an adjusting and retaining bolt 62 having an appropriate handle. The opposite arm of the yoke is provided with a return bend 63 as shown in Figure 4 which is apertured to suspend and journal the smooth shank portion 64 on the complemental bolt 65. The numeral 66 designates a lock nut. Thus, the drum may be cradied in any angular position in the yoke and set for handy use in this intended position. The obvious significance and purpose of the yoke 60 is that wherein it functions to effectually cradle the cylindrical and concavoconvex bottom portions of the shell in the manner illustrated. To this end it will be noted that the yoke is in proper conformity with the intended radius of the drum. Therefore, it serves to support the tone and in musicians terms, the outstandingly distinct action capable of accomplishment with the thus cradled drum.

It is pointed out that the drum shell may be formed as u a unit from suitable material or cast, molded, or otherwise fabricated into one-piece form and may be semispherical, semielliptical or parabolic. The drum employs but a single batter head with optionally applicable and removable snares which may be effectively used by the drummer according to discretion or according to the musical score as the case may the.

Although the drum bears a resemblance to a kettle drum it appropriates for use that unique principle for which it is outstanding; namely the transmission and travelling of the sound waves from the batter headto the parabolical portion of the drum shell thus attaining the tonal properties designed. And, as is significant the drum is adaptable to snare drum requirements whenever the snare-drum'efiects are'required by the rendition of the drummer.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to'limit the invention the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For orchestral and band use a drum comprising a shell which is generally cylindrical in cross-section, is open at the top and has a closed imperforate hemispherical bottom, a single vibratory batter head stretched tautly over and covering said open top, head hold-down and tensioning means embracing the marginal edge of said head and operatively and accessibly mounted on the upper wall portion of said shell, a plate secured to the interior of the wall of the shell adjacent the upper end of the shell, an anchor block secured to the shell at a diametrically opposite point, a plurality of snares having end portions connected with the block and plate respectively, said snares being engageable with the underside of said drum,

a lever 'pivotally mounted on the interior of the wall of the drum, a yoke mounted on the upper end of said lever, a roller carried by the arms of said yoke, said roller-being engageable with the snares at a point between the plate and anchor block, and means for swinging said lever in wardly and outwardly for purposes of regulating the tensioning function of said roller.

2. For orchestral and band use a drum comprising a shell which is generally .cylindrical in cross-section, is open at the top and has a closed imperforate hemispherical bottom, a single vibratory batter head stretched tautly over and covering said open top, batterhead hold-down and tensioning means embracing the marginal edge of said head and operatively and accessibly mounted on the upper wall portion of said shell, a plate having a lower end portic-n secured to the interiorof the wall of the shell adjacent the upper end of the shell, and an upper end portion in close proximity to the underneath side of said batter head, an anchor block secured to the interior of said shell at a diametrically opposite point and disposed in a plane below the plane of the upper end portion of said plate, a plurality of snares having end portions connected with the block and plate respectively, said snares being engageable with the underside of said batter head, and adjustable mechanical means mounted in said shell and manually regulable fromthe exterior shell and including a smooth surfaced rollerhaving rolling contact with and for applying and removing the snares.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 389,594 Plowe Sept. 18, 1888 892,223 Sansone et al -Dec. 27, 1932 2,433,594 Calo Dec. 30, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,952 Germany "Sept. 17, 1877 

